Rating Rationale
October 21, 2022 | Mumbai
Kothari Fermentation And Biochem Limited
Ratings downgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.44 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BB+/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BBB-/Negative')
Short Term RatingCRISIL A4+ (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A3')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed rationale

CRISIL Ratings has downgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Kothari Fermentation And Biochem Limited (KFBL) to ‘CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+’ from ‘CRISIL BBB-/Negative/CRISIL A3’.

 

The ratings action reflect the weakened business risk profile marked by decline in operating margin to 10.52% in fiscal 2022 from 14-18% over the past few fiscals. Margin remained impacted in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 at 10.3% as only a part of the increase in raw material prices could be passed on to customers. However, margin is expected to improve over the medium term with order visibility owing to the new yeast powder plant the trial production of which has started in February 2022. Ramp up of plant operations and its impact on profitability, if any, will remain monitorable over the medium term.

 

These factors along with modest scale of operations, impacted net cash accrual leading to minimum cushion between accruals and repayment obligations whereas the cash accruals are expected to remain sufficient to repay the debt obligations over the medium term.  Consequently, the liquidity profile of the company has stretched as reflected in average bank limit utilisation of 97% in the 12 months through September 2022.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the strong market presence of KFBL in the yeast manufacturing segment, its established relationships with customers that include leading players in the bakery industry, and above-average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the modest scale of operations and susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices.

Key rating drivers and detailed description

Strengths:

  • Established market position: Presence of around two decades in the yeast industry has enabled the promoters to establish a strong brand in northern region and maintain robust relationships with customers.

 

  • Above-average financial risk profile: Gearing and networth were estimated at a healthy 0.75 time and Rs 60.5 crore, respectively, as on March 31, 2022. Interest coverage ratio also continued to be comfortable at above 3 times in fiscal 2022. Financial risk profile is expected to remain stable over the medium term in the absence of any major debt-funded capital expenditure (capex).

 

  • Efficient working capital management: Gross current assets were moderate at 117 days as on March 31, 2022, driven by modest receivables and moderate inventory of 21 and 77 days, respectively. A credit of 22-36 days is offered to customers and payment realisation is on time.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Modest scale of operations: Despite being in business for nearly two decades, KFBL has subdued scale, as reflected in net sales of Rs 97 crore in fiscal 2022 which also got impacted due to Covid related disruptions. Despite an established brand name, product realisation remains low. KFBL has limited scope to pass on any cost hikes to its customers because of the presence of several large players. However, with ramp up of operations of yeast powder plant, scale of the company is expected to improve over the medium term.

 

  • Susceptibility to volatility in key raw material prices: KFBL remains vulnerable to moderate price risk because of fluctuations in raw material prices and limited variations in consumer prices. The industry is dependent on the raw material prices, domestic production of sugar cane and annual rainfall.

Liquidity: Stretched

Expected yearly cash accrual of Rs 5-8 crore is tightly matched against annual debt of Rs.4-6 crore over the medium term. Bank limit utilisation averaged a high 97% in the 12 months through September 2022. Current ratio was moderate at 1.03 times as on March 31, 2022.

Outlook: Stable

The company will continue to benefit from its established presence and healthy relationships with key customers.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Growth in operating income by over 15% and in margin by 250 basis points leading to increase in net cash accrual.
  • Improvement in the liquidity profile with sufficient cushion between accruals and repayment obligations.

 

 Downward factors

  • Decline in operating income by over 10% leading to fall in operating profitability.
  • Larger-than-expected debt-funded capex weakens the financial risk profile

About the company

KFBL, incorporated in 1990, is promoted by Mr Moti Lal Kothari and Mr Pramod Kothari. The company produces yeast and its derivatives at its plant in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh, which has an installed capacity of 2,000 tonne per month.

Key financial indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2022

2021

Operating income

Rs crore

97.03

95.55

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

0.31

4.81

PAT margin

%

0.32

5.03

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.75

0.65

Interest coverage

Times

3.5

4.04

 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities – including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings’ complexity levels please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of instrument(s)

ISIN

Name of instrument

Date of allotment

Coupon

Rate (%)

Maturity

date

Issue size

(Rs crore)

Complexity

level

Rating assigned

With outlook

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

13.0

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

NA

Term Loan

NA

NA

30-Nov-26

17.5

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

NA

Loan Against Property

NA

NA

31-Jan-28

3.9

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

NA

Non-Fund Based Limit

NA

NA

NA

5.00

NA

CRISIL A4+

NA

Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility

NA

NA

NA

4.6

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 39.0 CRISIL BB+/Stable 30-05-22 CRISIL BBB-/Negative 22-03-21 CRISIL BBB-/Positive 24-07-20 CRISIL BBB-/Stable 20-12-19 CRISIL BBB-/Stable CRISIL BBB-/Stable
      --   --   --   --   -- CRISIL BB+ /Positive(Issuer Not Cooperating)*
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 5.0 CRISIL A4+ 30-05-22 CRISIL A3 22-03-21 CRISIL A3 24-07-20 CRISIL A3 20-12-19 CRISIL A3 CRISIL A3
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 13 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Loan Against Property 3.9 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit 5 CRISIL A4+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.6 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Term Loan 17.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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